Parents raise concerns over crowded Hays CISD buses
Hays CISD said its transportation department is currently transporting about 9,200 students, but expects that number to increase to more than 11,000 students....
Westlake News
Schools
Hutto ISD superintendent discusses growth, teacher retention and balanced budget ahead of school year
Hutto ISD Superintendent Jeni Neatherlin spoke with KXAN about the district's growth, teacher retention efforts and financial priorities heading into the new school year....
College students can now pay tuition with PayPal or Venmo at some universities
Some universities are now allowing students and their families to pay tuition through PayPal and Venmo. Here's what to know.
Texas Comptroller to review finances of up to 4 school district
On Wednesday, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Don Huffines was asked to conduct a formal review of how state independent school districts were spending their funds....
Round Rock ISD expects homeless student population to grow this year
Last year, Round Rock ISD identified 1,000 homeless students. This year they expect the numbers to rise again.
How to watch Texas high school football on KBVO, KXAN.com and KXAN+
KXAN’s high school football coverage is expanding for the 2026 season. Here’s how to watch games across Central Texas.
Universities opening tuition payments to PayPal, Venmo
A handful of universities are allowing students and their families to pay tuition via PayPal and Venmo mobile payment apps.
Harvard settling body part theft lawsuits for $53 million
Harvard University on Monday announced that it will pay $53 million to settle several lawsuits filed by relatives of people whose body parts were stolen from the medical school's morgue and sold by its former manager....
New auditorium, CTE classrooms lead $170M in upgrades for Marble Falls ISD
Students at Marble Falls High School are returning to campus with several major construction projects underway.
Student News Now: TEA releases A-F ratings for each school district, campus
In this week's episode of Student News Now on KXAN+, the Texas Education Agency released the 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public schools and districts across the state....
Lake Travis High School football team cancels season opener amid death of senior player
The Lake Travis High School varsity football team has decided to cancel its season opener due to the recent death of one of its seniors, Odin Hensley.
State audit finds TEA exceeded manager staffing limits, lacked grant oversight standards
A state audit found the Texas Education Agency had a management-heavy workforce and inconsistent oversight of some state-funded grants, while identifying no unallowable spending....
Teacher found dead with throat slit; detectives scrutinize husband’s shifting story
A Colorado elementary school teacher was found dead inside her home, and investigators said evidence at the home raised questions about her husband's account of what happened....
H-1B visa holders make up less than 1% of Texas teachers. Abbott wants it to be zero
The Republican governor is calling for legislation to outright ban H-1B visa holders from working at Texas public schools.
'We're coming for the books': Lt. Gov. Patrick wants to remove 'dirty books' from public schools
The lieutenant governor said that state legislators would file a bill next session that requires the Texas Education Agency to lower a school's accountability grade if it has any copies of a challenged book on its shelves....
Round Rock ISD opens new school year with virtual academy
This year, the district kicked off the Round Rock Virtual Academy, which allows students to learn virtually.
Lake Travis cancels first football game following student's death
Lake Travis football cancelled its first game of the season after navigating a difficult couple of weeks following the passing of one of its players.
Texas State University kicks off new school year in Pac-12 Conference
August 19 was the first day of the semester at Texas State University. The university is anticipating another year of record enrollment. It's also the first year they're in the Pac-12 conference....
Patrick to Texas school districts: 'We're coming for your books'
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a stark warning for school districts that do not remove books that he believes are offensive.
Abbott orders review of how school districts are spending money
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the comptroller to conduct a review of how school districts are spending their money.
Is a sports physical enough? Doctor talks hidden risks for student athletes
As students head back to school, many are also hitting the field, court or track for the first time since summer break began. While a sports physical is an important part of getting cleared to participate in athletics, doctors say it's not the only preparation families should con...
Harvard to pay $53M over body parts sold on black market
Harvard has agreed to a $53 million settlement over a scandal involving donated human remains stolen from its medical school morgue and sold to buyers....
Smithville ISD explores replacement afterschool program after losing grant funding
"We were certainly shocked to learn that we lost those funds," said Dr. Molley Ealy, the Superintendent for Smithville ISD.
Georgetown ISD makes push to limit student screen time during new school year
Georgetown ISD Superintendent Devin Padavil discussed efforts to reduce student screen time, proposed teacher salary increases, and the postponement of new campus openings due to budgetary constraints....
Gov. Abbott proposes ban on H-1B visa use for Texas public schools during campaign stop
Texas public schools couldn’t sponsor H-1B visas to hire foreign workers under a ban Gov. Greg Abbott proposed Tuesday.
How to avoid the 'morning meltdown': Doctor addresses back-to-school stress
- For some families, the school day starts long before the first bell, and it can begin with a battle at home. Experts have some tips for parents to help their kids transition back into the school year smoothly and avoid what they call the "morning meltdown."...
Austin drivers: Know the rules around schools
Class is now in session in Austin ISD and that means drivers are once again sharing the road with buses, crossing guards, and children heading to and from schoo...
Abbott suggests banning public schools from using H-1B visas
Gov. Greg Abbott says he will push to ban Texas public school districts from employing H-1B visa holders.
Central Texas school districts see huge gaps in summertime free meal participation
As a new school year starts, Texas students in need receive free breakfast and lunch; but when cafeterias closed for the summer, those kids lost access....
Supreme Court asked to review Texas Ten Commandments in schools law
Civil rights groups are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review Texas’ law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms.
AISD teachers move to new schools in district after closures
AISD teachers move to new schools after closures
Vaccination rates for US students entering kindergarten fall as exemptions climb to a new high
Vaccination rates for U.S. children entering kindergarten during the 2025-2026 school year decreased according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with vaccination exemptions hitting a record high....
'Tremendous relief:' Coupland ISD opens first high school in 80 years
The Coupland Independent School District welcomed students back to high school for the first time in more than 80 years, marking a historic return for its first batch of students since 1946....
New ranking shows the best and worst states for women's equality
Here's which states topped a new ranking of the best states for women’s equality. See which states lead on pay, jobs, education and political representation....
Gov. Abbott awards $2M to expand free textbooks, course materials at Texas colleges
Nine Texas colleges and universities will receive more than $2 million in state grants to create and expand free educational resources, helping students save on textbook costs and workforce training materials....
Penn State drug bust: 14 charged in off-campus fraternity-based cocaine ring
Authorities charged 14 people with drug offenses tied to fraternity houses near Penn State, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Round Rock ISD superintendent: Targeted-improvement schools improved ahead of new year
Round Rock ISD's superintendent said all six of the district's campuses that were under targeted improvement plans have already shown signs of improvements....
Texas school districts still face challenges meeting armed officer requirement
Several years after state legislators passed House Bill 3, which aims to make schools more safe, KXAN investigators checked in with roughly two dozen school districts in our viewing area to ask about compliance. Overwhelmingly, districts that responded to KXAN said they still fac...
Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent discusses schedule switch ahead of new school year
Liberty Hill ISD superintendent Travis Motal discussed the district's return to a traditional five-day school week, its rapid enrollment growth, and the upcoming opening of new campuses....
CapMetro service changes take effect Aug. 16
As Austin prepares to head back to school, CapMetro said it implemented some service changes guided by the Transit Plan 2035 and community feedback.
How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences during back-to-school
Today's school conferences are sometimes 15 to 20 minutes, with little time for parents to ask their own questions.
Changes to UT Austin's required classes split campus community
Some students worry the academic shift caters more to the Capitol than the classroom.
Lake Travis football coach says team ‘devastated’ after player’s death
The head football coach for Lake Travis High School spoke Saturday about the death of a player after practice earlier this week.
Lake Travis football returns to practice following player's death
The Cavaliers returned to the practice field Saturday as support continues to pour in from across the Central Texas high school football community.
Locally owned retro video game store opens in north Austin
If it were possible to capture the feeling of being a kid playing old-school video games on a CRT TV, Christian Amador has done it.
Nonprofit hosts school supply drive benefiting Austin Title I students
On Friday, a Texas nonprofit hosted a school supply distribution event at Popham Elementary School in Del Valle.
TEA school ratings: Breakdown of Central Texas school districts
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its annual school accountability ratings Friday morning, revealing statewide gains alongside high-stakes challenges for public school districts across Central Texas....
TEA releases accountability ratings for Austin ISD schools
Two schools in Austin Independent School District, Burnet Middle School and Webb Middle School, received their fifth consecutive “F” rating, putting the district in a precarious position of possibly facing a state intervention....
Back-to-school jitters or something more? When parents should seek support
The first day of school can bring a lot of big feelings for students: excitement, nerves and maybe even a few tears. However, doctors say there is a difference between typical back-to-school jitters and signs of deeper anxiety that might require more support....
A rattling start to the school year: Jarrell ISD principal 'doing well' after snake bite
The principal of Double Creek Elementary School in Jarrell ISD was bitten by a rattlesnake Friday while trying to move it away from a door on the side of the school, according to district officials....
What the Texas Education Agency’s A-F ratings actually mean
On Friday, the Texas Education Agency released its annual accountability ratings for schools across the state. But how are the ratings determined, and what do they actually mean?...
How did your school do? TEA releases A-F ratings with many schools showing improvement
On Friday, the Texas Education Agency released the 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public schools and districts across the state.
These are Texas' best and worst schools, districts for 2026
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its annual report cards on public school districts, campuses and charter schools.
Wimberley ISD kicks off school year amid major construction, traffic impacts
Wimberley ISD is starting the school year with major construction projects at Danforth Junior High School and Wimberley High School.
Reclassified overnight: How a law change and tuition shock ended a UT student's dream
A UT student was reclassified as an international student and was expected to pay $40,000 more for her tuition. She has withdrawn and now lives in Mexico, but she still misses the Forty Acres....
Eanes ISD superintendent discusses strategic planning, school funding challenges for new school year
As students return to classrooms for the start of the new school year, Eanes ISD is beginning its first full academic year under Superintendent Kirk Koennecke....
Pflugerville ISD returns to class with campus closures coming
Superintendent Quintin Shepard addressed the closure of four Pflugerville ISD elementary schools due to a $20 million budget shortfall while discussing the district's initiatives in teacher recruitment, technology, and student career paths....
Houston ISD superintendent responds to teacher's viral video: 'That is why we're here'
Superintendent Mike Miles responded to a HISD teacher's emotional video, stating the teacher's concern has been a concern for years.
2 Austin ISD middle schools receive 'F' rating for 5th consecutive time
Two Austin ISD schools have received their fifth consecutive failing rating by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The district said this could prompt some form of future intervention by the state....
Two Austin ISD schools receive fifth consecutive F rating, potentially opening district up to state takeover
Two Austin Independent School District middle schools received their fifth consecutive F ratings, opening the entire district up to a state takeover.